Very odd question/offer about wool...

[CallMeMommy]

So we have sheep that DH needs to shear. Would there be any interest in the wool? It's dirty, matted, icky, but I hate to just toss it out. DH says there's no market for wool anymore but I knew if anyone was interested they'd be on MDC I'm completely clueless. I hesitate to post anything on the TP because DH says it's worthless, but if y'all think there'd be an interest I'll throw it up there.

[slsurface]

You could try your local craigslist to find someone who could put it to use. I would love to get into wool dying and spinning in the future, but I don't have the tools for that sort of thing right now.

[Think of Winter]

If you're looking to give it away, I bet you'd have no problem. But if you'd prefer to sell it, the value is going to depend on the type of sheep you have and how dirty the fleece is. It's not easy removing excessive vegetable matter, and scratchy wool has different uses than nice, soft merino or bfl. Do you have any interest in cleaning it and trying to use it? I washed a fleece in my machine with moderate success. After you wash it, though, I think it really needs to be carded to be usable for many things (that's combing it out straight.) But you could use it for stuffing toys, dog beds, etc. w/o carding. I also have a contact for cleaning and carding a fleece that I got from a local fiber artist. That may be the way to go, but again, it depends probably on the type of sheep you have whether it would be woth the expense. Just don't let it go to waste!

[beansricerevolt]

I'd be up for taking some off your hands if your giving it away

If your selling it, I'd wash it and comb it out. Like a pp mentioned, there is a market depending on the type. At the very least, it would make good stuffing.

[reillys_mom]

We have found it very difficult to get rid of our wool. We use dto sell it for stuffing in futons, but the transportation and holding costs were more than what we received. Since then I haven't found anyone to take much of it. I have given some to schools, especially Waldorf schools. It has encouraged me to do some more felting, but most of mine gets used for mulch. And, that's with us running a summer camp and doing spinning and felting as art projects. Sorry to not be more positive. If you're willing to do some legwork I'm sure that someone will take some of it.

[eepster]

Unless the wool is in sutch horrible shape that you don't want to touch it even with gloves on than it is useful. Even very poor quality fleeces from meat breeds can be used for stuffing, or as he inner layers of needle felting, etc.

Sadly in our throw-away economy very few people are willing to pay the cost of the labor in volved in processing raw fleece into something useful, unless they are very special high quality fleeces, so much wool gets burned as rubish while at the same time people stuff toys with polyfil.

[flapjack]

Great post, eepster.

I won't take it off your hands, Lisa, because I'm in a different country and I'm trying to buy local. I'd go and post in yarn crafts, and also in FYT- a lot of crafty mommies don't actually hang out on the craft forums here.

[iowaorganic]

Usually when DH has sheep he trades the shearing for the wool- at least then you don't have to sheer them yourself. I totally want more sheep so I can start processing my own wool- that is taking some convincing from DH. Where abouts in MN are you? Me- NC Iowa.

[Nibsie]

I would love, love love some good old greasy, veggie matter filled wool, and would happily pay shipping for at least a pound or two Just PM me if you are interested!:

[WildCanaryCait]

so funny that I found this thread. I have one of those icky matted two year old fleeces that someone gave to me 'cause they knew I used to spin and weave alot. (it's been fifteen years...lol) I've never washed one like *this* eek! ....I usually got a first year, pretty clean and just rinsed it, then carded.

Colleen~ how did you clean yours? Did you just drop it into the machine or use one of those mesh bags?
I am looking to make a few new pillows now....

[danieliausmama]

Why do you need to shear the sheep in the first place if you are not planning to use the wool. Is it too hot?

[eepster]

Originally Posted by danieliausmama

Why do you need to shear the sheep in the first place if you are not planning to use the wool. Is it too hot?

For the sheep not being sheared is like being forced to wear a winter coat all summer long. All sheep (except a few rare ancient breeds that still shed) must be sheared in the spring whether the fleece is used or burned.

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by WildCanaryCait

Colleen~ how did you clean yours? Did you just drop it into the machine or use one of those mesh bags?
I am looking to make a few new pillows now....

No no no! It's easy, but if you agitate, you'll felt it. Even hot water falling on your fleece can felt really soft wool.

Basically, you package your fleece up in laundry bags (like you mentioned) and crank up your hot water heater all the way. Wait an hour or so til it's really good and hot, and fill your machine with water and lots of dish soap. Then turn your knob past agitation to the spin in the rinse cycle just to really minimize the chance of it agitating. Then you lay the bags of wool into the machine and let it sit for an hour or so. Spin out the water, remove your wool, and start over.

There are very good, clear instructions online for machine washing a fleece. The important thing is no agitation while it's wet. Spinning is ok. If you can't find instructions, let me know and I'll seach.

Have fun! It's really fun!

[flapjack]

What about spinning in a frontloader?

[laralee16]

I'd so take some!!!!

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by flapjack

What about spinning in a frontloader?

I don't have one, so I don't know. I don't see why you couldn't spin it in a front loader, but I don't know how you'd wash it since you can't put the wool in the machine after the water.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by flapjack

What about spinning in a frontloader?

A top loader can be used to spin like a salad spinner, buut in a front loader the items you put in always get tumbled around b/c even if it's just spinning when if gets to the highest point of the spin the items fall back down. All that agitation would felt all but the very most felt resistant wools.